Saline County sheriff says he made ‘mistake’ BENTON (AP) — The Saline County sheriff apologized to residents Monday following his weekend arrest on a complaint of public intoxication, saying he had two drinks on an empty stomach and didn’t intend to be belligerent. Bruce Pennington, 62, was arrested Saturday after Benton police responded to reports of a “very intoxicated individual” leaving a restaurant and getting into a vehicle. Pennington said Monday he went to his vehicle to arrange ...

Bond Hearings (July 2, 2013)The following people appeared during felony bond hearings on Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear on Aug. 5 in Pope County Circuit Court. • Alicia Kisling, 20, delivery of a controlled substance — $30,000. A narcotics investigator testified the Fifth Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF), in cooperation with Arkansas State Police (ASP), ha...

Alamo attorney says affidavit is ’speculation’ TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — An attorney for convicted evangelist Tony Alamo said an FBI agent’s affidavit that Alamo controls property that’s listed in the names of members of his ministry is based on “speculation ... and/or hearsay.” The Texarkana Gazette reported attorney John Rogers makes the assertion in a response to the government’s effort to seize more than two dozen properties associated with Alamo to help pay $2.5 million in restitution he...

First week of testimony in Martin case wraps up SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — The first week of George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial wrapped up with testimony from two neighbors and a police officer that seemed to bolster the defense’s argument that he was pinned on his back by Trayvon Martin before shooting the teen. Neighbor Jonathan Good testified Friday that it appeared the unarmed teen was straddling the neighborhood watch volunteer, while another neighbor, Jonathan Manalo, said Zimmer...

Ex-felon fired shots, threatened policeDOVER — Police found a man with a prior felony conviction unconscious Thursday, who had a loaded gun strapped to his hip. District Judge Don Bourne set bail at $10,000 for Andrew Helton, 31, on Friday during felony bond hearings at the Pope County Detention Center. Helton is being held for alleged illegal possession of a firearm. He is required to appear in Pope County Circuit Court on Aug. 5. Court documents stated someone called police Thurs...

Petition seeks pardon for CodySupporters of Andrew James “A.J.” Cody have started a petition asking the governor to either pardon him or reduce his sentence. A jury convicted Cody, 27, earlier this month of second-degree murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison for the May 2012 shooting death of Lee Britton, 65. Cody claimed Britton sexually assaulted his daughter, 5, while Cody’s family stayed with Britton. The online petition was started by Cassie Jones of Dover, w...

Neighbor testifies about Martin-Zimmerman fight SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — Two neighbors and a police officer gave accounts Friday in George Zimmerman’s murder trial that seemed to bolster the neighborhood watch volunteer’s contention that he was on his back and being straddled by Trayvon Martin during their confrontation. Neighbor Jonathan Good said it appeared the unarmed teen was straddling Zimmerman, while another neighbor, Jonathan Manalo, said Zimmerman seemed credible when he said immediat...

Meth floods US border crossing SAN DIEGO (AP) — Children walk across the U.S.-Mexico border with crystal methamphetamine strapped to their backs or concealed between notebook pages. Motorists disguise liquid meth in tequila bottles, windshield washer containers and gas tanks. The smuggling of the drug at land border crossings has jumped in recent years but especially at San Diego’s San Ysidro port of entry, which accounted for more than 40 percent of seizures in fiscal year...

Conn. man arraigned in ex-Patriot’s murder case ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP) — An arrested man from former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez’s hometown was transferred to Massachusetts on Friday to face a gun charge connected to the murder case against Hernandez while a third suspect surrendered to authorities in Florida. Carlos Ortiz, who lives in Bristol, Conn., and Ernest Wallace, who walked into a South Florida police station, were the men identified earlier as being with Hernande...

NSA leaker’s dad says son would return to US WASHINGTON (AP) — The father of NSA leaker Edward Snowden acknowledged Friday that his son broke the law but said he doesn’t think he committed treason, as the Obama administration renewed its calls to Russia to expel Snowden so he can be tried under the Espionage Act. Meanwhile, Ecuadorean officials say Russian authorities have stymied the country’s efforts to approve a political asylum application from the former National Security Agency sys...

Ex-FBI agent faces tough questions in Bulger trial BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for James “Whitey” Bulger used an admitted corrupt FBI agent Friday to suggest to the jury at Bulger’s racketeering trial that he was not an FBI informant, a key contention of prosecutors. John Morris, an ex-agent who admitted taking $7,000 in cash and two cases of wine from Bulger, was grilled by Bulger’s lawyer about a 700-page file the FBI filled with information Bulger allegedly gave them while an informant in the 197...

Morrilton man gunned down on Little Rock street LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Police in Little Rock said they have identified but not arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Morrilton man. Sgt. Cassandra Davis said Jaxson Guinn died Friday morning after being found by officers on Thursday in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and suffering a gunshot wound to the upper torso. Davis said a man who was in the car with Guinn told officers he and Guinn were buying undisclosed pills from a man...

Police ID woman found dead in burning tires LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Little Rock police have released the name of a woman whose body was found in a burning pile of tires. But investigators don’t know who killed her or why. Police said Friday that the victim was Amy May Hughett, 31, of Little Rock. Authorities were summoned at about 7 a.m. Thursday about a fire at a business off Interstate 30 in southwest Little Rock. Officials have not revealed a cause of death and say no motive or suspect ha...

1 man shot dead by Jacksonville police officer JACKSONVILLE (AP) — Police in Jacksonville said an officer investigating a domestic disturbance has shot and killed a man. Police told reporters the officer was called to the home on the city’s north side about 9 a.m. Friday and were met by the man who was later shot. Details of what led to the shooting were not released. Police also have not released the names of the man or the officer — but say the officer is on paid administrative leave whi...

Man killed by gunshot in Jonesboro JONESBORO, (AP) — Police in Jonesboro have arrested a suspect in a man’s slaying in what was the city’s first homicide of 2013. Authorities said Denico "Nico" Jeffrey, 20, was found dead Wednesday night from a single gunshot wound. Investigators took Calvin Jackson, 39, of Jonesboro into custody, though police would not say what specifically led to his Thursday arrest. Jackson was expected be formally charged on Friday. It was unclear whether ...

Yell County police seek 2 suspects in separate casesDANVILLE — The Yell County Sheriff's Deptartment is seeking two suspects in unrelated cases of attempted breaking and entering and residential burglary. Police are trying to identify a male subject for questioning in an attempted breaking and entering. A photo of the man was taken June 12 near Danville, and police said he was driving a dark-colored four-door Toyota sedan. In an unrelated case, the department is also seeking Margie Crow, 44, in...

Murder charge filed in stabbing death of six-year-old girlCLARKSVILLE — A man accused of stabbing a six-year-old girl who later died has been charged with first-degree murder. Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons filed charges Thursday against Kou Her, 22, of Clarksville following the stabbing death of Autumn Vang, 6, at her home near Hartman in the early morning hours of May 10. Police said Her stabbed Vang behind the ear after Vang's relatives, who also sustained stab wounds i...

2 killed in Fort Smith by man wielding machete FORT SMITH (AP) — A man with a machete hacked two people to death in western Arkansas and police arrested the suspect at his mother’s home. The Southwest Times Record reported the victims were outside a Fort Smith home when the suspect, Gregory Aaron Kinsey, 20, of Fort Smith, walked by and exchanged words with the men. Witnesses told police the men confronted Kinsey, who attacked them with the machete. Police have identified the victims as Na...

Ex-treasurer pleads not guilty to charges LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges she steered state investments to a bond broker for $36,000. U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe set Shoffner’s jury trial to begin July 29 and said it will take at least four days. Shoffner entered her plea during a brief hearing before Volpe. She said little to reporters as she left the federal courthouse in downtown Little Rock, but did mention sh...